CTK ’16: 3-A Beaver Valley Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, August 22, 2016 | 11:08 PM

With schools either electing to move up or just taking the jump in class, what could be a new super conference in Class AAA was formed. The Parkway may be no more but the Beaver Valley Conference might rival the Parkway in toughness.

With only 3 AAA conferences and just 8 teams making the playoffs, it means that there will be at least 1, if not 2 or more teams that deserve to make the playoffs, now will not qualify for the post-season.

Here is a preview of each team and the predicted order of finish.

ALIQUIPPA QUIPS

The Quips are the current AA champs and PIAA runner up after a 15-1 season. Coach Mike Zmijanac lost a ton of talent from that team, but with the Quips, it’s more reloading than rebuilding. Aliquippa has won 59 straight regular season games and will look to continue their championship ways, which include 8 straight trips to Heinz Field.

Aliquippa will count on a pair of underclassmen to carry the offense. Junior Kiyon Fonks scored 3 touchdowns and sophomore Jelani Soloman scored 4 times in limited action. The pair rushed for almost 700 combined yards last season. Davion Jones, a transfer from Ambridge will see lots of carries at tailback.

Thomas Perry caught 5 touchdown passes, he was honorable mention as a junior in the MAC. TE Bobby Cashaw is a returning starter. Antwan Brooks will be the other receiver.  Junior Kwantel Raines is another player to look out for, he will start at QB.

The line is strong with Xavier and younger brother Dejour Fisher and Kenny Paine returning. Sophomore Solvaughn Moreland should be a starter.  

The Quips ranked 8^th in the state with 687 wins, that is good for 3^rd in the WPIAL behind New Castle and Jeannette. Aliquippa travels to New Castle on August 27 to open the season. The Quips also have a tough non-conference game at Clairton later this season.

On the defense, both Dejour and Xaiver Fisher return, while Alexander Riggins was all-conference at linebacker, along with Tariq Jones, who transferred from Ambridge. Raines will be in the secondary, he already has multiple D 1 offers, including Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia, along with Perry, Brooks and Cashaw. Davion Jones, he will be a defensive back. The Quips allowed just 19 points per game in 2015, the same will be expected this season.

Aliquippa suffered a loss over the summer as DiMantae Bronaugh, who was granted a 5^th year of eligibility, has seen his leukemia return and is looking at a bone marrow transplant. Everyone is wishing the best of luck and prayers to a fine athlete.

BEAVER BOBCATS

Beaver finished 8-3 last year but was blown out in all 3 losses, including South Fayette in the AA quarterfinals. The Bobcats were outscored 153 to 21, numbers that 17 year head coach Jeff Beltz must find a way to change in 2016.

The offense will focus around BYU recruit Darius Wise at QB. As a junior, Wise ran for 1,522 yards and scored 29 touchdowns while throwing for 1,189 and 11 scores. Wise needs 268 rushing yards to hit the 3 thousand plateau and has tallied 67 trips to the end zone. The best could be yet to come for the multi-sport star.

Wise does have some weapons as RB Dante Anzevino and Te’Vierre Williams all return. WR Landon Pontoli, Micah Weaver and Christian Herb are all back too. The offensive line is also strong with John Adams, junior Bryce Ramer, sophomore Louis Charlier and Nick Lampadarios as returning starters.

Strength for the Bobcats on defense is in the secondary with Wise, Williams and junior Tyler Wallace back. Herb, Anzevino and sophomore Brodie List all return at linebacker, while Karter Wallace is back up front.

Kicker Will Connelly hit 31 extra points and a field goal, he brings the Bobcats another weapon to use. Wise handled the punting and will be a factor in the return game.

The Bobcats are also a member of the 600 club at 624 victories. Beaver heads to Russellton to meet Deer Lakes on August 26^th.

BEAVER FALLS TIGERS

11^th year head coach Ryan Matsook returns a number of starters from a 8-3 team that advanced to the quarterfinals and has people on College Hill very excited about the coming year.

Of those returning is Donovan Jeter. The senior has over 25 scholarship offers to choose from, he has nailed his choices down to Pitt, Penn State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama and Notre Dame. He will graduate early and not play basketball for the defending champion Tigers.  The 2-way starter will be different this season, about 45 pounds lighter. As a more mobile defensive end, expect to see BIG things in his final season as a Tiger.

Not counting Jeter, the offense returns almost 29 hundred rushing yards and 50 touchdowns from last season. It starts with dual threat Malik Shepherd, racking up over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns plus throwing for 500 more yards. Shepherd has received an offer from West Virginia, but he could be slowed to start the season after undergoing foot surgery in July. Once healthy, expect to see the junior in a variety of ways this year with Austin French moving in from Ambridge and expected to challenge Adam Brady for the QB duties.

Running backs Neshaud Akins and junior Torian Leak post posted over 650 rushing yards. RB Amen Cottrill will also get some carries. WR Derrell Carter averaged 22 yards per catch, he has offers from Eastern Michigan, Howard, Towson and Robert Morris to consider. Add in Nate Stratton was honorable mention at receiver and sophomore Dante Collins, the son of former BF great Dwight Collins, who missed most of last year with a torn ACL, it makes for many weapons for opposing coaches to worry about.

The offensive line is strong with Raquan Crowder, Matt Gandy and Seth Gosseck all back and did we mention Jeter at tight end.

Jeter, Crowder and Sean Conway anchor the front line. At linebacker Jaccarri Cleckley(80 tackles), Cody Long and Dalton Cleckley all received conference honors, with Mason Crothers will be the 4^th starter. Shepherd, Leak, Akins and Carter make for a talented secondary. All in all, the Tigers might have a long season in their future.

The Tigers program is in the top tier of Pennsylvania football history with 635 career wins and has qualified for the playoffs 9 straight seasons. Beaver Falls does not have a Week Zero game, they open with Aliquippa on September 2^nd.

CENTRAL VALLEY WARRIORS

Central Valley was denied by Thomas Jefferson for a 2^nd straight WPIAL championship. The Parkway Conference co-champs went 11-2 and have made the playoffs all 6 seasons of a short history under the direction of Mark Lyons.

Realignment brings a new conference and challenges for the Warriors, first is how to replace an offense that averaged 36 points per game.

Junior Danny Santia will be counted on heavily, rushing for 477 yards and scoring 10 times as a sophomore. Terry Woods will be the fullback. Receivers Deante Bradley and Aris Tatalovich posted 5 and 4 touchdowns. Cameron Drake will also be a wide out.

Nico Batisti or Curt Latshaw will be competing to be the starting QB. Both are juniors and both have little varsity experience. Latshaw is thought to be the better passer of the duo. 

Center Preston Cron anchors the offensive line after making first team all-conference as a sophomore. Junior T Eric Neill and G RJ Halfhill also return.   Junior Brandan Jugan hit 6 field goals and converted 50 extra points as a sophomore.

The defense allowed 15 points per game in 2015, that number will have to continue if the Warriors are to compete for WPIAL gold. Juniors Vinny Verrico and Luke Sloan will be on the front line. Robby Kunselman , Terry Woods and Santia are starting at linebacker. Bradley was honorable mention in the secondary, he will be joined by Tatalovich.  

One factor in Central Valley’s favor is that the Warriors host Aliquippa, Beaver Falls and Beaver, 3 of the main competitors for the conference crown. Another is a Week Zero game at South Fayette will prepare the Warriors for the challenge ahead.

ELLWOOD CITY WOLVERINES

Since falling in the quarterfinals to Greensburg Central Catholic in 2011, the Wolverines have not had a winning season and have failed to make the Highway to Heinz. Lincoln High rallied from an 0-3 start but could not get that 5^th win.

Just 30 players are out for the team. Don Phillips is back at the helm and has a lot of help up front to see if Ellwood City can get off to a good start, despite the low numbers. D’ Shon Stevenson was 1^st team all MAC on both sides of the ball, he will be counted on heavily this year. Mitch Fraizer, Anthony Agostinelli and junior Joel Ables give the Wolverines strength.

Jordan Reece returns at QB, but had limited snaps last season for an offense that averaged 26 points per game. The senior went 8-1 as the jv QB after losing his sophomore year due to a broken arm. Juniors Andrew O’Brien and Luca Botti are challenging for the QB job, however both may see time at other skilled positions. 8 players are competing for time in the backfield, including junior fullback Toby Kelly.

Stevenson and Agostinelli anchor the defense along with junior NG Noah Borison while Nate Russo and Kelly (59 tackles) both gained conference honors at linebacker for a defense that allowed 24 points on average. O’Brian started as a sophomore in the secondary.

Lincoln High opens up on September 2^nd at Central Valley. Phillips was the head coach at Center before the merger with Monaca.

HOPEWELL VIKINGS

Coach Mark Washington knows a lot of work needs to be done to bring back Hopewell football. The Vikings last made the playoffs in 2012 and have not had a winning season since 2011 at 7-4.

The Vikings showed signs of improvement, going 2-7 overall and won their 1st conference game since 2012, a 2-20 stretch. Hopewell does carry a 4 game losing streak into the current season.

Hopewell must improve an offense that averaged just 12 points per game. QB Billy DePaul returns, he ran for 4 scores last year but was intercepted 9 times. WR Chris Jones was honorable mention having only 10 catches, but did score a pair of touchdowns. Look for RB Desante Hines to see more carries to balance out the offense, after his transfer from Aliquippa.

On defense, 4-year Anthony Falletta was all-conference on the front line. Junior Austin Nuccetelli was honorable mention at outside linebacker. Improvement is needed there as well with a 41 points allowed per game average.

Multi-sport standout Eli Loncar booted 2 field goals as a junior. The Vikings travel to Freedom to open on August 26^th.

QUAKER VALLEY QUAKERS

John Tortorea leads the Quakers into a new challenge, having just missed the playoffs at 6-4 in 2015. Quaker Valley won the last 3 games and looks to build momentum into 2016.

The Quakers haven’t had a losing record since 2012 and have won 19 games over the past 3 years but have only 1 playoff trip to show for it.

QB Amos Luptak returns to an offense that averaged 31 points per game. As a sophomore, he threw for almost 2 thousand yards as a sophomore. Luptak has 31 touchdown passes and 9 td’s of his own over the past 2 years, making him a MSA Sports Player to Watch. Junior Ricky Guss will be at fullback after missing the end of last season. Joey Hess will be a wide out, along with Isaiah McNair who transferred from Ambridge and Jordan Martin. Sophomores Smith Johnson and Ryan Jackovic will also make some catches.

Jack Westwood will start on both the offensive and defensive lines. Jaylen Martin, and juniors Jake Pesicka, Jacob Kolessar and Josh Magee will also be on the offensive line.  

Guss is at linebacker, along with juniors Andrew Seymour and Oliver Funk. Jordan Martin returns in the secondary and will be a receiver. Owen Harkins is the kicker.

Depth may be an issue as the Quakers ended their co-op with Cornell as the Raiders return to the football field in Class A. Quaker Valley opens on September 2^nd at McGuffey.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

1.   Beaver Falls Tigers

2.   Aliquippa Quips

3.   Beaver Bobcats

4.   Central Valley Warriors

5.   Quaker Valley Quakers

6.   Ellwood City Wolverines

7.   Hopewell Vikings

Tags: Aliquippa, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Hopewell